Can-end-soldering machine.



' '0. 821,644 PATENTED MAY 29, 1906.

O. J. JOHNSON. 1 CAN END SOLDERING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, 1904.

a sHEETs-sHEET 1.

73% war: jar

" No. 821,644. PATENTED MAY 29, 1906.

0. J. JOHNSON.

CAN END SOLDBRING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Mac ,Vaiw AV J/l/irngy qllnemses No. 821,64Q. PATENTED MAY-29, 1906.

0.-J. JOHNSON.

CAN END SOLDERING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED MAYZ 1904.

' a SHEETS-SHEET a;

UNITED srarns ra rnn'r OFFICE.

an a

OLIVER J. JOHNSON, or wi-iEnLmo'; wns'r vnieinni.

No. 821,64l;

machines of that kind known as floaters,

in which the cans are rolled along, ahorizontal t-ransverselydnclined track with the circular edge of one end or head dipping in a bath of molten solder and arethen deposited with the soldered end down on a traveling coolingbelt, from which they are transferred to a second similar track, along which they are rolled with the circular edges of their opposite ends or bottoms dipping" into the solder-bath, so that both ends of the cans are soldered.

In soldering-machnes of this type the solder-boxe's for the 1nolten-solder bath are relatively long and are liable. to warp and sag from the heat and weight of the solder, and if the can-tracks are connected to or supported by the solder-box or other parts of the machine which are affected by the sagging or warping of the solder-box they will also warp or sag out of, true parallel relation tothe surface of the solder-bath, so that the cans will dip deeper in the-solder at some portions of the tracks than at others, this wasting the solder, or they will be held out of the solder while passing over portions of the tracks, and so be imperfectly soldered.

One object of the invention'is to so con struct and arrange the solder-box and cantracks that the warping or sagging of the solder-box will be prevented as far as possible, While if it does warp or sag it will not change the relation of'the can-tracks to the surface of the solder-bath.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel transfer mechanism of simple and efli cient construction for reversing and conveying the canswhich have been soldered at one end only to the track upon which the cans rollto solder the opposite or unsoldered endsv thereof.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section,'of a can'- end soldering machine embodying the inven tion. broken away to expose one otthe' coolingbellts, Fig. 3 is a side elevation of'the ma} chine, on an enlarged scale, omitting the cooling and transfer mechanism and showing -Specifieation'of Letters Patent. Application filed M53125, ltlO; Serial in. 209,604.

* the side rail of the am brol for that is the hottest part,

and when it has become thori'ou .Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof, partially.

Patented g9 1 9 ri-ii .1 pose the solder-box. Fig. 4 is at 5 longitudinal sectional e'levat 1 an enlarged scale. Figs. 5 ,an l mentary transverse sectional, ,e vations on an enlarged scale, through thesolderingend fluxing portions of the machine,, pect v r Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan; horizontal section, on an @111 rg the central portion of the machine Like letters-of reference refer in the several figures. The main frame; of the macl, end and intermediate transveriel v upright supports or standards A, which ma. be of any suitable form, an d'longitudinal horizontal side rails or bars Bfwh chlar hol ed to and connect the upperi-p ti standards.- The horizontal shown'in Figs. 3, 5, and 6,; ar rt heavy and of considerable) vert width for purpose which n" described. j y, C represents the solder boiler in which the solder is contain "i an a molten condition by flamesli or other heating means arrang solder-box. The latter is supp the opposite side rails of their 7 lateral lugs or'portionsd on sol; resting on inwardly-projecting l tions d 011 the side rails of th' l Fig. 5.) The supporting-lugs( the solder-box are arranged (sj Fi near the center of the box and 1 distant from and on opposite center, and an additional lug n of the box. The location of is such that they can carrytli of the box and bath and the] ance on the lugs to prevent OIHPL SGS the 'canleaves the bath usuall y ris hapipen when the box is siippfor d scri ed, for it will balance on the" e the ends will settlesoas to which will reniainstraight so 16h temperature is maintained h solder-box are, preferably provided" Zontal flanges or extensions (ZilfFi oyerhang an are spaced from the 1 right'standardspf the Thefsolderboxor receptacle tively shallow, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 but on account of the weight of the solder there-' in. As the sides depend below the bottom of the box, they do not become heated to so high a temperature as the latter and materially lessen the tendency of the ends of the box to rise on account of theexpansi on of its bottom from the heat of the solder and the flame beneath the bottom. The depending sides of the solder-box also constit-ute shields or aprons between the side rails-of the frame and the burners and confine'the .flame and heat from the burners and protect the side rails of the main frame from the excessive heat of the burners. The horizontal side rails of the main frame being of considerable depth, as explained, they are very rigid, andas they are protected from the heat of the flame. they will not warp vertically out of their true horizontal relation. It is sometimes necessary to adjust the solder-box at one or both ends on account of the changes box. In machines in which the solder-box is supported on shallow or fiat frame-rails the latter will sag with the solder-box, and it has been customary to provide-an independ- 3 5 ent center support for the box, which required readjustment when the ends of the box were adjusted. The upright deep side rails of the frame above described carry the entire weight of the solder-box and bath without sagging andobviate the necessity for such separate center support. The means for maintaining a constant level of the solder in the solder-box is not shown.

E E represent acid or flux troughs which are arranged horizontally in line with the solder-trough between the intermediate upright standard which supports the inner end of the solder-box and the other end standardol the machine; These acid-troughs constitute no part .of the present invention and may be of any suitable form and supplied with acid or flux by any usual means; i

,F F represent can tracks or plates arranged longitudinally at opposite sides of the machine and inclined transversely toward the center of the machine, so that the cans in rolling along the tracks will be held in an inclined position, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, in

order that the circular edges of their lower ends can dip into the acid or flux in the fluxtroughs and the solderiu the solder-box. The can trachs are supported. from the rigid horizontal side rails ofthe main frame by suitable brackets or armsf, bolted or other-v wise secured to the horizontal side railsand The deep sides of the in position thereof. due to the warping of the can-tracks F and F It will beseen .fros,

Fig. -5 that the inclined can-tracks areheld by their brackets above the sides of the solder-box and entirely free froinor out of contact therewith, so that the tracks will be maintained in an absolutely true horizontal position and prevented from warping'or sagging regardless of any warpim or sa 'glm of the solder-box. Thus if the weigh t of the solderin the solder-box causes thelatter to sag .centrally or the heat upon the bottom of the solder-box causes the latter to expand and to warp the box so that its ends are thrown up hi her than its central portion the can-tracks w' l, nevertheless, not be affected by such changes in the solder-box,.but will remain parallel with the surface of the solder. The can-tracks are provided at their inner edges with the usual lips or flangesf, on which the circular bodies of the cans bear, and 'with longitudinal guide-stripsf'-. whiclrare secured to the can-tracks by bolts passing through slotted brackets g, attached to the guidestrips, or by other suitable means.

H H represent two rails which are arranged longitudinally in the solder-box and are movably supported at their end and intermediate portions by bars 72, arranged transversely in the solder-box. Therails are provided with longitudinal guide-strips 71, against which the lower ends of the cans bear, as usual, and

are ad'ustedtransverse! of the solder-box -con11non, are, supported by suitable pulleys i i, journaled at opposite ends of the machine on suitable brackets )rojecting from upright posts K, which are bolted or otherwise secured to and project from the upright supports or standards of tl1e n1ain frame.

The convcyers are driven by the usual orany suitable drive mechanisnr. The lmverruns of the conveyers are yieldingly pressed down on the upper portions of the can-bi-nlies to properly roll-them on the tracks by ordinary means, suchas weightedlevers X', pivoted to horizontal frame-lnn's 7a, with their free ends bearing onthc lower runs of the conveyors.

L11 represent endless cooling-belts, which are arranged longiludimllly at opposite sides of the machinebelow the can-tracks. 'lhc cooling-l. elts run around adjustable supporting and tensioning pulleys at the opposite ends of the machine and are driven in the same direction by suitable means, such as by a hell, (not shown.) running on a drive-pulley I, secured to the si "t r the supporting,

ICC

I mainframe.

821,64&

ulleys at one end of the machine.

" cans to the cooling-belt Land turning them into aiverti'cal position with the ends just soldered down on the cooling-belt. The

curved chute or track is of known construction. i t The transfer mechanism for conveying the cans from the cooling-belt L to the can-track F. at the other side of the machine for solderinglthe other ends of the cans is constructed as follows: P represents an inclined chute or runway which leads from the front end portion of the cooling-belt L to the lower end of an upright elevator-guide P, and P represents an upper inclined chute or runway leading from the upper end of the elevatorguide to-the front end of the can-track F at the opposite side of-the machine. is an upright elevator-belt running around upper and lower pulleys q andq, journaled on a suitable bearing 'frarne g .One of the. puls leys-tor instance, the upper on'eis fixed to a shaft g provided with a drive-pulley q, Fig. 2-. The upper and lower ends of the upright elevator-guide are curved subsmm tially concentrically with the pulleys for the elevator-belt, and the upright portionv of the guide between its curved ends is preferably bowed inwardlytoward the adjacent ascending side of the elevator-belt, as shownin Fig. 1. The cans enter between the lower end if the guide and lower pulley for the elevatorbelt from the lower chute and are engaged by the belt and rolled upwardly along the guide and over the upper pulley,.where'they arernoved out of the upper curved end of the guide into the upper inclined chute or runway and roll down the latter onto the cantrack F at the other side of the machine. As the upright portion of the elevator-guide is bowed toward the ascending side of the belt the cans between the guide and belt tend to deflect the latter, and as the belt tends to straighten out between the pulleys the cans are pressed against the guide with sui'licicnt force to cause them to be properly rolled up The cans are held against the the guide. elevator-belt when passing around the. lower and upper pulleys by tension-belts and q", Fig. 1, arranged, respectively, atthc lower and upper ends of the elevator. One end of each tcnsiondielt is secured to the curved portion of the (-levatonguidc, and the other ends thereof are connected by springs (f to stationary brackets or the like g preferably by adjusting-screws q and nuts q. These springs are very delicate, and as the cans passbetween the pulleys and tension-belts the latter hold the cans lightly against the elevator-belt until they pass a shortdistance beyond the pulleys, thus insuring the proper movement of the cans over the pulleys.

It will be observed that the inclined chutes P P, leading to and from the lower and upper ends of the elevator, are not looped or bent so as to change the general direction of movement of the cans traveling therein, and the ends thereof adjacent to the elevator are in the same vertical plane with the elevator, so that the cans enter and leave the elevator. in the same vertical plane The cans are shoved "off the cooling-belt into the lower elevator-chute by a stationary inclined plate ll or other suitable device, with their unsoldered ends outermost, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, so that when they are ele'- vated to and pass down the up, er elevatorchute to thesecond can-track their un soldered ends will be innerniost'in pro er position to be soldered as they arerohed From the rear endof along the can-track.

the latter the cans pass down a curved chute S, which turns themvertically with their newly-soldered ends down on the second they entered the machine.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination of a frame having hori zontal side rails arn'n'iged with their greatestwidth vertically, a'solder-box supported between said side rails, and tracks on which the cans'tra vcl supported by said side rails above and out of contact with said soldcr-bo'; sub: st-antiallyas set forth.

I 2. The combination of a zontal side rails arranged with their greatest" width vertically, a soldenbox supported between said side rails and having sidewalls which depend below the bottom of the box and tracks on which the cans travel supported by said side rails above and out of contact with said solder-box, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of a frame having horizontal side rails, a solder-box arranged intween and spaced from said side rails, said solderbox being loosely supported by said side rails whereby the warping of the solderboX will not ail'cct thc side rails, and tracks on which the cans travel supported by said side rails above and out of contact with the solder-box, fubstantially as set forth.

7 4. The combination of upper and lower chutes orrunways for the cans. a guide con 1 nccting the same. and a traveling bclt adjaccent to said guide which engages the cans and rolls the same up said guide, substanially as set iorth.

frame having horr-F coohng-belt L, from which they pass out ot the machine at the tront end or end at WlilCll' 5. The combination of upper and lower runways for the cans, an elevating guidetrack leading from the lower to theupper runway, and a traveling belt adjacent to said guide-track which engages and revolves the cans and thereby rolls the same up said guidetrack,-substantially as set forth.

'6.'The combination of upper and. lower runways for the cans, a substantially .upright elevating guide-track leading from the lower to the upper runway, and a traveling belt adjacent to said guide-track which en- 'gages'and revolves the cans and thereby rolls the same up said guide-track. v

7. The combination of upper and lower 7 @ohutes 0r runways for the cans, an upright gu dehavmg curved ends connectingwith {said-chutes, belt-pulleys substantially concentric with said curved ends of the guide, and an elevator-belt passing around said pulleys Wlt'll one portion thereof substantially parallel with said guide for rolling the cans up said guide, substantially asset forth.

8, The combination of upper and lower chutes orv runways for the cans, an upright guide fhaving curved ends connecting with "said ic-hutes, belt-pulleys substantially concentric with said curved ends of the guide,

.andan elevator-belt passing around said pulleys with one portion thereof substantially "parallel with said guide for rolling the calls u. I said guide, said guide being bowed toward said belt between saidpulleys, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination of upper and lower chutes or runways for the cans, a guide be i :tween the same, pulleys, a traveling belt run:

ning around said pulleys, and tension-belts "adjacent-to said pulleys and connected to. 4

. traveling belt, substantially as set forth.

said guide for pressing the cans-against said 10. The combination of. upper and lower chutes or runways for the cans, a guide between thesame, pulle s, a traveling belt running around said pu leys, and flexible tening the cansfrom said'cooling-belt into said chute with the unsold'ered ends outermost, an upright elevator which takes the cans from said chute, and a substantially straight 'sion-belts adjacent to said pulleys and each inclined chute arranged with one end directly above said first-mentioned chute and leading fronrtheupp'er end of said elevator tothe can-track at the opposite side of the machine, substantially as set forth.

12. The combination with a solder-bath,

can-tracks at opposite sides thereof, a cooling-belt, and means for directing the cans from one of said tracks to s'aidcoolingbelt with the soldered ends down, of a substantially straight inclinedchute, means for moving the cans. from said coolin -belt into said chute with the u'nsoldered en s outermost, a substantially straight inclined chute above said other chute leading tosaid other cantrack, and an elevator-guide and traveling belt for conveying the cans" from said first chute to said upper chute, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 6th dayof May,

' OLIVER -J. JOHNSON.

Witnesses: Y I

' LOUIS SwENsoN',

W. F; BERNHEISEL. 

